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Tags: Kabbala
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Behaaloscha 5
- Rabbi Yitzchak expounded on Bais Zevul, explaining that it refers to a heavenly realm where divine blessings are received and arranged.
- Zevulun and Yissachar had a unique partnership: Zevulun supported Torah while engaging in commerce, and Yissachar devoted himself to learning.
- The Techeiles used for tzitzis comes from the sea, mirroring the spiritual connection between the upper and lower worlds.
- Zevulun inherited the role of engaging with the nations, bringing them to recognize Hashem, as seen in Amim har yikra’u.
- Rabbi Abba explained that Torah is Klal Yisroel’s inheritance, just as white (chivara) is connected to Techeiles.
- The distinction between Techeiles and white marks the beginning of daylight, symbolizing clarity in divine service.
- The weapons of the King and His armies are entrusted to those who uphold this mission.
Main Text
English Translation
Behaaloscha, 5
Rabbi Yitzchak opened and said: It’s written (Melachim I 8:13):
“Banoh banisi bais zevul loch, machon l’shivtecha olamim”—
“I have surely built You a stately house, a dwelling place for You forever.”
“Bais Zevul” means Bais Zevul for real—because this is where all the treasures of the King are entrusted, and everything is under His control. That’s why it’s called Bais Zevul. And there’s a certain firmament that’s also called Zevul, because this is where brachos are received and everything is arranged. That’s why it’s called Bais Zevul.
Come and see! It’s written (Devarim 33:18):
“U’liZevulun amar, ‘S’mach Zevulun b’tzeisecha, v’Yissachar b’ohalecha’”—
Zevulun and Yissachar were partners. Zevulun would go out and engage in war, while Yissachar would sit and toil in Torah. Each one supported the other. Zevulun’s portion was with the sea, and Klal Yisroel is called Yam Kinneres (the Kinneret Sea). And this fits, because Techeiles comes from there. And Chazal explain: Just like down here reflects the way things are up there, so too, Yam Kinneres exists above and below. Techeiles above, Techeiles below—it’s all in one place.
And because of this, Zevulun inherited the mission of going out and fighting battles. And how do we know this is so? Because it says (Devarim 33:19):
“Amim har yikra’u, sham yizb’chu zivchei tzedek.”
Zivchei tzedek for sure! And what’s the reason? Because “ki shefa yamim yinaku”—they draw from the bounty of the seas. Yissachar’s portion was Torah, and he gave Zevulun a share in his Torah. And because of this, they were joined together, so that Zevulun would be blessed through Yissachar—because the bracha of Torah is the bracha for everything.
Rabbi Abba said: The achsanta (inheritance) of Torah works exactly like this. And this is the foundation—one supports the other, and Torah is inherited by Klal Yisroel. The white (chivara) is tied to the Techeiles. And because of this, we learned:
“Mi’she’yakir bein Techeiles l’lavan”—
When one can distinguish between Techeiles and white, because the colors must be recognizable. At that time, it’s called boker (morning). The white emerges in the world, and the Techeiles fades away. And because of this, all the battles of the King and all the royal weapons are entrusted into His hands. And this is what was established.
